Last night, defender Dejan Jakovic, midfielder Chris Pontius and defender Ethan White, as well as Scouting Coordinator Kurt Morsink, watched RGIII lead the Washington Redskins (6-6) to a 17-16 grudge match win over the New York Giants (7-5).

While the G-Men have the overall edge in this rivalry – compiling a 93-65-4 record and winning four Super Bowls over the Redskins’ three – the exciting talent of rookie QB Robert Griffin III has Washington prime to change the tides. Comparably, D.C. United has dominated its series against Atlantic Cup Foes New York Red Bulls, posting an all-time 32-20-9 mark. In fact, no other club has defeated a team as much the Black-and-Red has beat the Red Bulls.

Tweet Tweet - United players share pictures and thoughts from their Monday Night Football experience

Chris Pontius, Nick DeLeon, Bill Hamid and Perry Kitchen all increased their player ratings from November to December in American Soccer Now’s (ASN) 100. Voted on by the likes of former U.S. Men’s National Team players (USMNT) – Jimmy Conrad, Alexi Lalas and Kyle Martino – as well as members of the soccer media, such as Grant Wahl, Jason Davis and Brian Sciaretta, among others, the list ranks the American player pool from 1-100.

Moving up three spots to #22, Pontius looks prime to earn a spot in the USMNT’s upcoming January camp. In the biggest Black-and-Red jump for the month, DeLeon catapulted 11 spots to #50. The rookie had two goals in the MLS playoffs – United’s first post-season appearance since 2007 – including the game-winner against the New York Red Bulls in Leg 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Hamid shows up not far behind, at #52 (up two spots from November), jumping ahead of Chicago Fire netminder Sean Johnson. And 20-year-old Perry Kitchen continues his gradual ascend, climbing six spots up to #64.

The next USMNT camp will occur on Jan. 14, and will include no more than 23 players. Typically pooling from MLS and players in the Scandinavian leagues, DeLeon, Hamid, Kitchen and Pontius could very well be in the mix. Immediately following this camp (and a possible friendly), Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann will select the roster that will kickstart the Hexagonal Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying on Feb. 6 against Honduras.

Today, the Canadian Soccer Association announced the list of nominees for the BMO Canadian Players of the Year Award. Among the list was D.C. United midfielder Dwayne De Rosario. The award will be voted on by Canadian media and coaches.

De Rosario appeared in five matches for the Canadian National Team in 2012, notching one goal, a game-winner over Panama in World Cup Qualifying. With 71 total appearances and 20 goals, De Rosario is Canada's all-time leading goal scorer.

On Monday evening, D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen sat courtside with his fiance at the Verizon Center in Washington DC. The Indiana native was in attendance to watch the Washington Wizards versus the Indiana Pacers game. (Photos by Jose Argueta)

Major League Soccer today announced that Chicago Fire defender Austin Berry is the 2012 MLS Rookie of the Year. D.C. United midfielder Nick DeLeon finished second in the voting.

DeLeon played in 28 matches (25 starts) is his first professional season and broke the club's rookie goal-scoring record with six goals. The talented winger also scored two goals in four matches during the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

DeLeon is United's fourth consecutive MLS Rookie of the Year finalist. He is the third player to come in second (Pontius - 2009, Kitchen - 2011). Andy Najar won the award in 2010.

The shuttle will begin making loops to RFK Stadium from The Queen Vic at 1:30pm, with the last shuttle leaving RFK Stadium for H Street at 7:30pm after the game. The shuttle will drop patrons off at RFK Stadium near Lot 8 - just a short walk to the official D.C. United tailgate and the tailgates of La Barra Brava and the Screaming Eagles.

Fans who already have tickets to the game will also be able to ride the shuttle (just be sure to get a hand stamp) and are encouraged to join other supporters at either The Queen Vic or The Pug (1234 H St. NE) pre and post-game.

To take advantage of this special offer, call The Queen Vic's Ryan at 703-869-0081.

Statistics suggest United should feel confident ahead of the second leg

Heading into Sunday's Eastern Conference Final, United will either end its season on Sunday or overcome a two-goal deficit and go on to host MLS Cup on December 1. The stats suggest the Black-and-Red can do it.

At the end of regular season, only San Jose (72 GF), Los Angeles (59 GF), and New York (57 GF) netted more goals than D.C. United's 53.

D.C. United has 15 multi-goal games this year.

The Black-and-Red have netted four goals three times (against FC Dallas, the New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire); three goals six different times (against the Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC, New England Revolution, Montreal Impact and Columbus Crew); and two goals six different times (against the New England Revolution twice, Toronto FC, New York Red Bulls twice and Colorado Rapids).

D.C. United is tied for 4th in League with most wins by 2+ goals

When it comes to winning games by two goals or more, D.C. United (7) is tied for fourth in the League. Only LA (11), San Jose (9), Seattle (9), Colorado (8), New York (8), and Montreal (8) have one more games by two or more goals.

On the other side of things, Houston is tied for 4th in the League with most losses by 2+ goals. Only Chivas USA (10), Toronto FC (9), New York (8), Montreal (8), and Portland (8) have more losses by two or more goals – none of which are still in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Houston prone to giving up goals on the road

Through 34 regular season games, only two teams given up more goals while on the road than the Houston Dynamo (29) - last place Toronto FC (37) and seventh place Montreal Impact (32).

The Dynamo were 3-9-5 on the road through the regular season, with big losses coming to the Vancouver Whitecaps (3-1 on 6/10), Montreal Impact (4-2 on 6/23), the Chicago Fire (3-1 on 9/2), the Philadelphia Union (3-1 on 9/23), and the Colorado Rapids (2-0 on 10/27).

Mayor Gray and MLS Commissioner Don Garber at RFK Stadium for the playoff match on November 3. (D.C. United owner Jason Levien in the background [left].)

From the Mayor to tower cranes, the District is in full support of D.C. United during its Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Red Bulls. Below are some of the many expressions of support from around the city.

Good luck to DC United 2nite in their 2nd-round playoff game against the Red Bulls! #DCU